Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-23
A YOUNG NAPOLEON.
NWhen Is IL to he2u
/.

wv hen is 1t to bep'
asked John Strong this question be-
cause he was my intimate friend. He had
Bold me all about his engagement with
Vnrina Vincent, the pretty school teacher.
He had opened his heart TO me, and l felt
that had the right to ask when the we'd
ding would take place.
TO my surprise Strong's handsome face
clouded and he paused for moment be-
fore making reply.
''To tell you the truth" he said, 1--WE
do not see our way clear to an early mar
riagc. We are both poor, but we are
young and can afford to wait"
l said nothing, but ] could not help
thinking. In n small town like Cotton
vile Strong was regarded MS a very pros
porous young man. He had saved few
thousand dollars, and his salary was the
highest paid to any one In the place.
Only u few years before Strong had en-
tered II country store as n clerk on starva-
ton wages He had advanced steadily
until he had become the cashier of the
only bank In Cottonville.
81 have done pretty well,n resumed
Strong, giving me Il keen glance, "but
do not know exactly how | stand. Some
OF my Investments may turn out well, or
they may ruin me. Besides, | have Dor
rowed some money"
THAT is what cannot understand" /
interrupted. "You are prospecting, and
yet you borrow money for speculations.
That is not wisen
Strong laughed and threw his head
back proudly
"Old fellow, you don know my plans"
he answered; 81 have never made fail
urc yet have the gift OF seeing farther
ahead than most people, and | am going
20 -tf IL \ l.,- .
where 10 place it. / don't venture be-
yond my depth. Debt is blessing under
some circumstances. The most successful
nations and individuals go the deepest in
debt"
II was useless to argue with Strong In
our debating society he had always come
oil victor in every discussion. Self poised,
well equipped and magnetic, there were
few men, or women either, that he could
not win over to his side.
"Narina understands me-" he said
'She is willing to wait. She knows that
II is best for us both"
well, my young Napoleon" l re-
marked, 81 hope that one of your brill
liant, speculative campaigns will satisfy
your ambition, and that you will then
settle down and marry and take life as
you find it. Only Il few men find the
~,
dangerous to seek Them
Everybody in Cottonville called Strong
the young Napoleon of business. His
brilliancy, his rapid intuition mis- imperi-
Gus ways, and the fact that his classic
features resembled somewhat those of the
great Corscan, had fixed the name on
him when he was in his teens. And he
liked it. All men like to think that they
resemble heroes and eonquerors
II.
Twenty thousand dollars profit In cot
ton futurestn
1t was a big thing for Cottonvile. But
the young Napoleon took it quietly. He
was not surprised, he said to his inquiring
friends. He had felt certain that he would
make a ten strike.
II am off for New York" said Strong.
the next day after the intelligence of his
good fortune had reached him "Goodby,
old fellow"
But when are you coming back ?'
asked, holding him by the hand
"Oh, don't know. l can't very we'll
say at present"
There is Varinap exclaimed. "Ah,
see. After your return there will be a
wedding"
Don't bother me with that subject
now, snapped my friend; my head is
full OF important business matters, and |
must go TO New York There is no way
out Of it. 1t is all right with Varina. OF
course l am coming home as soon as
possibly can, but have an opportunity
of getting on the inside in Wall street
and must go.''
Getting on tho inside?'
"Yes, said So But you know nothing
about speculation and care less. | mean
just this: have some friends there who
will put me up to something that will pay
better than any Of my past ventures. "
My dear friend,' l urged, "why not
let well alone? With your present start
you Will soon be the richest man in Cot
tonville.n
'In CottonvilleH' he sneered. "There,
never mind that / like the town and
am coming back. Goodby."
People shook their heads at first. In a
few weeks their suspicious were confirmed.
Strong had plunged into the very vortex
OF the speculative maelstrom in Wall
street, and il was not long before we
heard that he had made another lucky hit.
STRONG is phenomenal genius in his
way" said Banker Jones to me one day.
"lie reads human nature at n glance, and
can adapt himself to any class of men.
have no doubt that he is as much nj home
among the New York capitalists as if he
had been Que of them always. And he
will impress them, too, just as he inn
pressed people here"
ventured to express doubt
lyon are mistaken" said Jones.
Have you never noticed few rare men
who seem To have nothing in common
with the people around them-mcn who,
from their birth, are cosmopolitan by ma
ture, with nothing provincial about themP
Strong is such man. A stranger could
not tell from his appearance and con-
versation what part of the country he is
Identified with. In New York, San Fran
cisco or New Orleans he would be at
home. II is only here, where he was born,
that he appears to be altogether different
from his fellows"
Banker Jones was something Of
philosopher and had to yield to him.
saw Narina every day. Sometimes
was at the postofice when she called for
her mail and was always well pleased
TO see her bend her pretty head and hurry